Basketball Buzz

The last couple of weeks have been really great. A good LDS friend of mine invited me to his ward's stake center to play some basketball. I've been playing with him and a lot of other guys on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. All of the guys were really welcoming and it has just been such a great opportunity to get to know a lot of guys who need the truth of the gospel. I am getting to know a lot of the guys pretty good and it's getting to the point where we are starting to hang out a lot even outside of playing basketball. I have also been doing a lot of stuff with my friend who originally invited me. In fact, we went out for dessert the other night and just talked about life for about an hour. He talked a lot about his mission. He knows that I am not LDS but it is so cool that he still wants to build a relationship with me. Just pray that God would give him ears to hear and eyes to see and that I would be a vessel emptied out of myself only to be filled with the Holy Spirit in witnessing to him. You can pray anything else you might want to, but those are just a couple of suggestions. I am just so excited about what the Lord is going to do in these guys that He has placed in my life. I just want to see souls saved here and I'm very excited to be apart of it. Love you guys and really appreciate the prayers. Let us toil and strive on behalf of the gospel of truth.

Changes

Things are going to change real quick. What I mean is that Cydney and I will be married on May 2nd and will be living together to serve the LORD and display His blood bought covenant relationship for all to see. This is going to be new and fresh for both her and I so I would really welcome prayer for that. Also, we are going to be looking for an apartment in the bountiful or Centerville area which is where the church will be planted at. We definitely need to be in that area so it will be easier to do ministry and serve the LORD more wholeheartedly. It has been difficult to do so up to this point because I live a little over a half hour away right now. I am usually in Centerville about three to four times a week and that is definitely tough to do with a really tight budget and a long distance to travel. Nevertheless, God is good and He works out all things according to His purpose and for the good of those that love Him.

Also, all of us could use prayer in Utah for the Church itself, and more specifically that the LORD would send workers into His harvest field. Right now we are in the pre-launch phase of the church planting process. We are hoping and praying that the LORD would send us other Christians who have a heart for seeing the lost get saved to build a fully functional launch team. This will get us to the point where we can start a full Sunday service in a church building some time down the road.

Praise God for the Carpenter family making it here to Utah and finding a place to stay in Centerville. Blake was provided a full time job with Overstock.com. He has great benefits for his family and great pay to support them as well. Also, we are continuing to pray for the Stott family and that everything will go smoothly for them to get out here as soon as possible. They are in the appeal process of their adoption proceedings and it has been a long trial filled road for them. If you could keep them in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated as well.

Carrie's friend, Tamara is here with us in Utah for three months and she has been a huge blessing to the Pankratz family as well as everyone else that interacts with her. She is only able to get a three month visa which is unfortunate because we would hope that the LORD would keep her here forever to help us in His work. So, also keep that in your prayers when you remember her in your time with the LORD.

So, Cydney and I will be coming back to Fresno, CA on the night of April 27th and will be there until May 7th. I am excited to see all of my friends and family. I love all of you guys so much and God is my witness how I long for you with the affections of Christ.